What Next for the `Veranda of Mecca'?

President Megawati Sukarnoputri visits the strife-torn province of Aceh. Sadly, no concrete moves are anywhere on the horizon.

September 11, 2001

President Megawati Sukarnoputri was animatedly delivering her speech when unexpectedly an Acehnese university student stood up to interrupt her. She paused for an instant and then counseled the youth in a rather firm tone about his inappropriate behavior. "Brother, I am a guest in Tanah Rencong (land of the Acehnese dagger). Can't you show me some respect?" she said before asking the student to sit down. Then she continued to finish her brief spe

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